What a weekend it was. It began on Friday evening and continued to Sunday evening. 48 hours of family togetherness. The sons and partners and I spent several weeks planning our first get together since Christmas, to celebrate Malcolm’s birthday. Given the added demands for keeping our distance from each other and evolving arrangements in several dimensions, the planning requirements were considerable – but oh so worthwhile.
One pair slept elsewhere (fortunately her parents were away elsewhere so they could sleep at their house without difficulties), the other pair (trio) slept at the bottom of the garden in the wooden summerhouse. I say ‘slept’ but that requires a broad definition – little granddaughter ensured that. She’s not a great sleeper at the best of times, and over-excitement probably didn’t help. Fortunately for her parents, Malcolm volunteered to take over at 6.30 the first morning, and I did the same the second morning. No great hardship for either of us, and it was much appreciated.
There were a few walks, lots of playtime, lots of laughing and chat, good food and drink (everyone contributed something to the mix), and careful attention to keeping our distance (apart from granddaughter and her grandparents – we’d already decided that we three should be a little ‘bubble’ a couple of weeks earlier. The rain was unexpected and unwanted but didn’t last and we had a sheltered spot at the bottom of the garden where we were able to eat most of our meals together.
There was some creativity at work in the garden. No garden toys for her to play with? Repurpose some garden edging hoops, clothes pegs and a blanket to make a crawling tunnel-cum-hideaway.
The perfect way to celebrate a birthday in these times. And now I’m feeling done in. Time for a bit of R and R. Today is the start of our 14 day self-isolation prior to my operation, so I’m expecting life to be calmer this week and next. I’ve made a little list of some things I’d like to do in these 14 days, and sitting around reading is one of them.
And breathe.
I hope you had a good weekend, and something good to look forward to this week. See you tomorrow xx
the magic jug 
Togetherness followed by isolation – that will be a shock to the system! But a nice segue to medical care.
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Indeed. The weekend was very full on compared with the weeks beforehand, and certainly this week and next. Fortunately we both like solitude, but we’re already missing seeing the granddaughter especially. They change so quickly when they’re so young.
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